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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Course evaluation:
Personal Response: This is a short story but a powerful one about loss and finding new happiness in life. The setting reminded me of Willa Cather’s wonderful novels. Though the children are a bit one-note, Sarah is a complex, spunky character that I enjoyed.
Evaluation: The setting is particularly important to this story; different elements of the prairie are referenced in order to highlight Sarah’s homesickness for the sea and reflect her loneliness. MacLachlan’s characterization is also effective in that each character is realistic and their actions and dialogue are consistent for the time period. Sarah and children also struggle with their weaknesses throughout the story, which play into the theme of creating a new family. This theme is made evident in the first few lines when Caleb asks about his mother’s singing, and is infused in each small event throughout the plot.
Personal Response: This is a short story but a powerful one about loss and finding new happiness in life. The setting reminded me of Willa Cather’s wonderful novels. Though the children are a bit one-note, Sarah is a complex, spunky character that I enjoyed.
Evaluation: The setting is particularly important to this story; different elements of the prairie are referenced in order to highlight Sarah’s homesickness for the sea and reflect her loneliness. MacLachlan’s characterization is also effective in that each character is realistic and their actions and dialogue are consistent for the time period. Sarah and children also struggle with their weaknesses throughout the story, which play into the theme of creating a new family. This theme is made evident in the first few lines when Caleb asks about his mother’s singing, and is infused in each small event throughout the plot.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I just love this book! One of my all Time favorites!
Oh gosh! This book may be the sweetest thing ever. Some strange force compelled me to pick this up, even though I previously thought I hated it. My 2nd Grade teacher had read Sarah, Plain and Tall to my class, and all I remember is being bored out of my mind.
Well, I blame that boredom on my shit attention span (which, honestly, hasn't gotten much better since 2nd Grade), because this book was GREAT. It's filled to the brim with wonderful stuff:
charcoal drawings. fluffy sheep. haircuts. the sea. flowers of all kinds. first words. baking bread. sliding down hay dunes. singing. swimming in cow ponds. "there is ice on the windows on winter mornings. we can draw sparkling pictures and we can see our breath in the air. papa builds a warm fire, and we bake hot biscuits and put on hundreds of sweaters." yellow bonnets. a cat named seal. chickens who aren't scared of anything. the first roses of the season. reminiscing. adopted families. finding new homes.
Seriously, it's perfect. The writing isn't all that special, and neither is the story, really. It's more of a novella than an actual novel. But it just warms up your soul, like a big bowl of chicken noodle soup when you're feeling under the weather. I want to be Sarah so bad, and live in this book for the rest of my days. Or just live out my own life with Sarah in mind; she is brave, kind, loving, adventurous, headstrong. If I can be like Sarah, finding the good in any situation and making the most out of my life, taking leaps of faith and changing my everyday routine, I think I'd be a lot happier. (on a similar note: i need to adopt some chickens, grow a garden, and put little flowers in my braided hair)
SOME COVER NOTES:
Isn't that left cover just darling? It perfectly captures the book, and that's exactly how I picture Sarah (but also Glenn Close... for obvious reasons). The one on the right is the edition my teacher had in 2nd Grade. It's atrocious. No wonder I found the story boring, with that dull illustration staring back at me. I hope all the kids that read this book pick up the newer cover, because I doubt they'd want to read the story between the other cover.
Well, I blame that boredom on my shit attention span (which, honestly, hasn't gotten much better since 2nd Grade), because this book was GREAT. It's filled to the brim with wonderful stuff:
charcoal drawings. fluffy sheep. haircuts. the sea. flowers of all kinds. first words. baking bread. sliding down hay dunes. singing. swimming in cow ponds. "there is ice on the windows on winter mornings. we can draw sparkling pictures and we can see our breath in the air. papa builds a warm fire, and we bake hot biscuits and put on hundreds of sweaters." yellow bonnets. a cat named seal. chickens who aren't scared of anything. the first roses of the season. reminiscing. adopted families. finding new homes.
Seriously, it's perfect. The writing isn't all that special, and neither is the story, really. It's more of a novella than an actual novel. But it just warms up your soul, like a big bowl of chicken noodle soup when you're feeling under the weather. I want to be Sarah so bad, and live in this book for the rest of my days. Or just live out my own life with Sarah in mind; she is brave, kind, loving, adventurous, headstrong. If I can be like Sarah, finding the good in any situation and making the most out of my life, taking leaps of faith and changing my everyday routine, I think I'd be a lot happier. (on a similar note: i need to adopt some chickens, grow a garden, and put little flowers in my braided hair)
"And I slept, dreaming a perfect dream. The fields had turned to a sea that gleamed like sun on glass. And Sarah was happy."
SOME COVER NOTES:
Isn't that left cover just darling? It perfectly captures the book, and that's exactly how I picture Sarah (but also Glenn Close... for obvious reasons). The one on the right is the edition my teacher had in 2nd Grade. It's atrocious. No wonder I found the story boring, with that dull illustration staring back at me. I hope all the kids that read this book pick up the newer cover, because I doubt they'd want to read the story between the other cover.
I don't know how I missed this one when I was a kid. This short novel was so tender and heartfelt--it nearly had me in tears several times. MacLachlan tells the sweet story of Anna and Caleb, who live on the prairie during the pioneer days. Their mother died after giving birth to Caleb. Now Papa is lonely and writes an ad in the paper requesting a wife. Soon the family receives a letter in response...enter Sarah, plain and tall. I have always loved stories about family and relationships, and this one certainly did not disappoint. I think many children ages 8/9 and up would enjoy this story since it is humorous, sweet, and very relatable in many ways (think sibling relationship and forming bonds with new step-parents). And of course anyone who loves good historical fiction will like it too--it is full of rich imagery that puts a clear image of the prairie in your mind. Highly recommend this one.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A quick and heartfelt classic that everyone should read.
This book is just a pure warm fuzzy for me. It's like the novels I write but condensed and simple for the younger set. Each one of my kids couldn't wait to watch the movie and were delighted with how well the movie followed the book.